Healthy alliances: supporting the National Healthy School Standard in Nottingham

Government policy in the UK promotes inter‐agency collaboration in integrating health promotion into the curriculum and life of primary schools. We report on a pioneering scheme in inner city Nottingham, bringing teachers together with primary health care staff to develop some of the components of the National Healthy School Standard. Using a model of small working groups based around individual schools, with the support and expertise of central specialised staff, schools have been able to engage in health promotion development with no disruption to other core activity. The scheme has been popular with teachers, health staff, pupils, parents and the wider community, and has included a wide range of health topics, covering both local and national priority areas. It is a method of working we commend to those wishing to implement the National Healthy School Standard.